Recent Comments by jmd82

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

I'm a UGA grad / fan watching the game on a bit of a delay - I always record so I can skip most the commercials. While UGA-UT is still a rivalry, it hadn't felt like too much of one lately with what was UT's slide over the last decade. I was at UGA in the early 2000's when UT was still good so it still feels intense to me.

Anyways, I think it's about 19 seconds lift with UGA still down, and my buddy texts me and I'm like, "The only reason he'd text me is because something batshitcrazy happened at the end of the game." It wasn't crazy (yet) so the only logical conclusion is UGA got a Hail Mary. And the next pass, BAM, Eason throws a rocket - not a Hail Mary mind you, but a thing of beauty our WRs would have dropped last week. I jump throwing my cat across the room to do the victory dance screaming. I read my buddy's text and it reads, "So Close too... ROCKY TOP! :)" What the hell? There's 10 seconds left! Then a penalty. Return to set up doable field position. Surly this can't be the same old Dawgs - a callback to a few years ago when GT comes back to win with almost no time. And then the Vols get their own Hail Mary. The joy, ecstasy, and pain and anguish of college football.

Tim Duncan announces retirement

Peyton Manning’s squeaky-clean image was built on lies

It's also not the initial incident that's causing issues. It's that, even after the initial settlement, the Mannings have continued to bring up the incident in the book and an interview. After UT, she got a job at Florida Southern. It was only when the book was being published that she was reportedly let go. It's also trying to cast blame elsewhere. Chances are that if this hadn't been brought up again by the Mannings, it wouldn't be news today.

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

It's annoying hearing all the ESPN talking heads screaming about how LSU football will never shutdown because it's Religion. Nobody disputes that football is religion. But the issue isn't shutting down football just 'cause, but rather that classes would be cancelled for all students making all athletes ineligible. Everyone will be caught in the crossfire. But who needs nuance on talk TV?

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Golden State Exposes Cleveland in Game 4 Rout

I haven't heard much from the media about LeBron can't win anymore - that seemed to dissipate somewhere around winning the 2nd championship. Now, I hear the talking heads talk about how it's a win/win for LBJ - A win is one of the greatest Finals victories ever, and nobody can blame him for loosing with a depleted cast. The idea of the media lambasting LBJ seems to be a carryover from before his Heat days.

Cavaliers Beat Hawks by 12, Lead Eastern Finals 2-0

And that's what happens when Atlanta plays like the Cavs, only without a Lebron to play the part. Seems they forgot how to pass, and to make shots they were draining during the regular season. The offense needs a major tuneup before the next game to have a chance.

Formula E Racing Comes to U.S.

"Why not go for 70?"

Yup:
Wilkins wasn't just victimized by Bird on the court that night. He also was the victim of a good-natured prank by teammates afterward. Ray Williams, a backup guard for the Celtics in 1985 (he died in 2013) recalled in the days after Bird's feat that some of the Hawks had gone to a club after the game. Cliff Levingston, a backup forward, summoned a waiter and had a bottle of champagne sent to Wilkins's table. The inscription: Thanks. From Larry.' When Wilkins, known as the Human Highlight Film during his prime, was recently honored with a 13 -foot tall, 18,500-pound statue outside of the Hawks' home, Philips Arena, Bird quipped, I'm pretty sure it's not made in a defensive stance.'

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Ending of the Auburn-Ole Miss game was one of the more brutal endings I've seen. Looks like Ole Miss is going to score a TD to go ahead with 1:30 left. But not only is the ball fumbled on the 1 yard line and recovered by Auburn in the end zone, but the fumble is caused by Treadwell's injury, causing his fumble. Painful. You can see the GIF version here.

Germany Wins World Cup

Contrast to Argentina, who had a number of similar opportunities near the box, but couldn't get the proper control for that final touch. Just that one magical touch for a goal to remember for a lifetime.

In Mankato, most people take the side of Hoffner, calling the kids spoiled brats or entitles or something along those lines. Pretty much everyone likes Hoffner and thinks he deserves to get his life back together.

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

After being down by 20 to start the 4th quarter, UGA storms back to take the lead, with the defense managing to man up for the first time this season. Only to blow it by tipping a 4th & 18 Hail Mary straight into the fingertips of an Auburn receiver. It's kind if funny how it'll go down in Auburn lore, but it required a special bit of terrible from the UGA defense to make it happen. Probably the most madenning season of Georgia football in the last decade.

Atlanta Braves plan to build new stadium in Cobb County

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

As talented as Clowney is, I can't help but wonder if he's the monster he has been made out to be if he doesn't make that huge hit versus Michigan in the Bowl game last season.

I watch a lot of SEC football, and I definitely saw Clowney as being as dominant as reported. While that Michigan hit certainly helped pushed him into the stratosphere, he had dominant games during the regular season and was in the running for SEC defensive player of the year for a reason. Regardless, I've always had a hard time believing he'd go overall #1 in the draft.

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Is Roger Federer Done?

He obviously isn't the player he used to be, and the competition has stepped up, but of 2004-2007 peak will always be some of my favorite tennis years. I loved watching Federer when he was nearly unstoppable (except on clay) with the grace and knowledge that he could beat anybody.

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Spurs One Game from Title

Though it looked like the Spurs were ready to run away with the game at any given moment, the Heat, unlike game 3, did not simply mail this game in and really wanted it. Every time the Heat made a run, I thought, "This is it, when they turn the tide and take the series by the balls," but the Spurs just kept on fighting back. Entertaining basketball game.

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

I wanted the Red Wings to win, but after that disallowed goal, I can't feel too bad about Chicago winning in the end. My heart is still fill of (sports) hate for Hossa, though. Something about him just annoys me.

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Innocent Coach's Career Ruined by False Abuse Allegation

I live in Mankato and get that same feeling, TheQatarian. I think most people recognize that a) child abuse bad but b) this was not a case a child abuse. After the facts came out, pretty all the local newspaper news has been pro-Hoffner saying that he's getting a raw deal, but MSU obviously doesn't want another Sandusky so they took the easy route and fired him.

NFL Players Knew Teammate Was Gay, Didn't Care

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

As someone who knows little (really nothing) about European soccer, does that include any teams outside of Britain? I also hear big things about Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, and I'm sure other teams. Are we missing out on key soccer players of they're not part of this NBC bananza?

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Tiger Woods Assessed 2-Stroke Penalty for Illegal Drop

Just imagine the wailing & gnashing of teeth if the old rules were still in effect and Tiger got DQd. Sportscenter would go into hyper-outrage mode and my Facebook wall would look like Obama just got elected to a 3rd term.

Money & March Madness

Nobody makes money off of regular students - the difference is the athletes generate a ton of revenue for their performances and get none of it back.

Senior year science students were all required to work in a lab for a year, alongside grad students and post-docs. We were doing research that brings money back into the school via grants & potentially patents. I went from paying tuition to be able to work in a lab to getting paid for doing the same exact work upon graduation. I'd say that Universities can make money off students, though not in the same way as athletics.
Might sound like I have a problem with this structure, but I don't.

Also consider that student athletes are significantly constricted by the NCAA in how much money they can earn via jobs, a constraint not put on other students.

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

And would the Vikings then have 2 first round picks if they wanted to trade up and try to get a QB early?

None of the QBs in this draft inspire any confidence that they'll be an upgrade over Ponder. Speaking, who is the Minnesota QB going to throw to this year anyways? They were 31 out of 32 in the league passing last year, and can you really expect AP carry the team to the playoffs again? He's a freak, but that's a tall order for a RB with zero passing game. Even though Harvin missed a chunk of the season, he was still easily first in receiving on the team. Your 2nd receiver next year for the Vikings? Michael Jenkins. Yikes.

I'd expect the Vikes to pick up a WR or two during the draft, but they seem so hit or miss and tend to take a season or two to really develop (not unlike other positions I suppose).

Idaho Lets Man Sue Over Foul Ball Injury

I have an uncle who's a big-time McD exec and we are under strict orders not to ever bring up the coffee case, or even the topic of "frivolous lawsuits" in general, lest you want to subject yourself to a lengthy colorful array of expletives and see a man drive himself into heart attack mode.

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Part of the problem is Tim Tebow's in a no-win situation here. If he backs out, people cast stones like above. If he doesn't back, people cast stones like Gregg Doyel. No matter what Tebow does, somebody will find fault with how he acts out his faith.

Flacco Wanted to Cheat on Super Bowl's Final Play

Joe Flacco, working hard to annihilate any goodwill he may have ever built up

Eh, I see it as a heat of the moment, WE ARE SO PSYCHED UP AND GOING TO WIN THE ULTIMATE PRIZE NO MATTER WHAT, BITCHESSSSSSSSSS!!! I saw this whole segment and just chuckled. I'm guessing he's not the first person with the brilliant idea, even if it almost never going to fruition.